Thursday, 26 May 2011

Great news - Ambis Engineering are back. They supply an extremely useful range of bits and pieces for wagons. See MRJ 207 for more details.
The contact address is Ambis Engineering Products, 27 Stanhope Gardens, Ilford, Essex, IG1 3LQ. Strictly mail order only.
The 7mm scale products can also be had from Hobby Holidays. However, the products don't seem to show on the Hobby Holidays website yet.

Premier Components also supply excellent three-link and screw couplers. 'Excellent' in the sense they are robust and pre-assembled, not necessarily for extreme accuracy to prototype. These have become my standard fitting.

There are also various detail items in the catalogue that may be useful - Wakefield Lubricators for example.

Premier Components are at 14 Swanlow Avenue, Swanlow Park, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 1PB. Their trading arrangements are unusual. You just send for what you want and they send it back with an invoice for you to pay. I hope such trust is not abused.

Sunday, 6 February 2011

After the study of many more photos, I have revised my opinion on this question. It still remains an opinion, not a fact.

I suspect that most, if not all, were fully lined out during the Robinson period. However during World War I the lining was left off. Of course this would only apply to locos as they were shopped, they would not go in just to have the lining painted out.

If anyone has more certain information (or even a different opinion based on the evidence) I'd be very glad to hear it.

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

David Howes tells me that the Quainton Road Models GC six-wheel fish van to diagram 49 is now in production, and the first batch is selling well.

Having moved during 2010, up to date contact details are:Quainton Road ModelsChyanbrePolyphantLauncestonCornwallPL15 7PTQuainton.Road.Models@mac.com

He is now working on on a MS&L 29ft six-wheel brake van - a new kit. Following that there will more six-wheelers - significantly enhanced and improved versions of the simpler etched sides/ends he marketed in the 1990s.

Suggestions for other kits are invited.

People modelling the GCR in 7mm are truly blessed to have so many kits available and/or promised. It is fast getting to the point where the only thing outstanding will be a cast figurine of Sir Sam Fay! And maybe even that will come.